Ontario Rare Bird Alert for the week starting December 15, 2023 Species mentioned (all caps indicate species on the OBRC review list): Tundra Swan (BEWICK'S) (Norfolk) Eared Grebe (Toronto) Western Grebe (Halton) LIMPKIN (Chatham-Kent) Spotted Sandpiper (Peterborough) Dunlin (Norfolk) ANCIENT MURRELET (Thunder Bay) Black-legged Kittiwake (Hamilton) Sabine's Gull (Hamilton) Pacific Loon (Hamilton) SOOTY/SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER (Hamilton) Great Egret (Waterloo, Wellington) Black Vulture (Niagara) Osprey (Chatham-Kent) White-eyed Vireo (Chatham-Kent) Philadelphia Vireo (Middlesex) Black-billed Magpie (MIDDLESEX) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Chatham-Kent) Townsend's Solitaire (Essex) Wood Thrush (Ottawa) FIELDFARE (Nipissing) Baltimore Oriole (Oxford) Ovenbird (Toronto) Black-and-white Warbler (Toronto) Orange-crowned Warbler (Thunder Bay) Cape May Warbler (Durham) Yellow-rumped Warbler (AUDUBON'S) (Chatham-Kent) WESTERN TANAGER (Ottawa) Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Waterloo) Dickcissel (Toronto) Details: I have tried to indicate the finder, where known. My apologies to those who I have left out. You can help me by giving the finder's name(s), if known, in your eBird checklists. Tundra Swan (BEWICK'S) (Norfolk): James Lees photographed one on Lakeshore Rd between Port Royal and Port Rowan on December 15. Eared Grebe (Toronto): Marsha Duggan found one at Colonel Sam Smith Park on December 15 that was seen by many to at least December 20. Western Grebe (Halton/Hamilton): The bird found by Joanne Redwood off LaSalle Park on November 27 continued again this wek to at least December 19. LIMPKIN (Chatham-Kent): Pete Read found one in Wheatley Provincial Park on December 18 that has been seen by many to at least December 21. Spotted Sandpiper (Peterborough): Jake Nafziger found one on the Otonabee River between Locks 22 and 23 that had been seen earlier in the fall on December 17 that was seen by a few others the same day. Dunlin (Norfolk): Two birds were reported at Turkey Point on December 18. ANCIENT MURRELET (Thunder Bay): Tim Baerwald found one off Wild Goose Beach on December 16 that was seen by a few others later the same day. Black-legged Kittiwake (Hamilton): Up to two birds were reported off Van Wagner's Beach by several observers on December 21. Sabine's Gull (Hamilton): Up to two birds were reported off Van Wagner's Beach by several observers on December 21. Pacific Loon (Hamilton): The one found by Keith Dieroff at Yacht Club harbour on December 4 continued to at least December 13, mostly around Bayfront Park. SOOTY/SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER (Hamilton): Keith Dieroff and Markus Legzdins reported one off Van Wagner's Beach on December 21. Great Egret (Waterloo): Scott Young photographed one at Blackbridge Rd in Cambidge on December 21. Great Egret (Wellington): Patricia Quackenbush and Dean Post reported one from the Speed River by Niska Rd on December 16 that was reported again the next day (December 17). Black Vulture (Niagara): Up to two birds were reported this week from the Queenston area. Osprey (Chatham-Kent): Ric McArthur reported one from Rondeau on December 16. White-eyed Vireo (Chatham-Kent): The bird found by Jim Burk at the south end of Taylor Rd east of Morpeth on December 10 was still present to at least December 16. Philadelphia Vireo (Middlesex): The bird found November 25th by Reuven Martin at Pottersburg Park in London and relocated December 14 continued this week to at least December 20. Black-billed Magpie (MIDDLESEX): The bird found by Harrison McCormick at the Dingman Constructed Wetland on December 2 continued to at least December 16. Another (or the same) bird was photographed by Quinten Wiegersma at the Westminister landfill site on December 21. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Chatham-Kent): One bird continued in the Rondeau PP campground to at least December 20. Townsend's Solitaire (Essex): The bird found by Jeremy Bensette and Kate Derbyshire at DeLaurier in Point Pelee on November 19 continued again this week to at least December 21. Wood Thrush (Ottawa): The bird found by Francine Mercier at Champlain Park Woods on December 7 continued to at least December 21. FIELDFARE (Nipissing): The bird found by Julie Belliveau Sturgeon Falls on November 29 was seen by many daily to at least December 15. For more details including guidelines and instructions for visiting see: https://ontbirds.ca/empathy/thread/VQACO2HLKSAQPLNNIS54CHKT52PZFW2N Baltimore Oriole (Oxford): Chad Cornish photogaphed one in Woodstock on December 16 and 18. Ovenbird (Toronto): One bird was found at ET Seton Park on December 17 during the Toronto CBC. Black-and-white Warbler (Toronto): The one found by Gordon Fitch at Sunnyside Beach on December 3 was seen by several observers to at least December 17. Orange-crowned Warbler (Thunder Bay): One bird continues to visit feeders in Thunder Bay near High and Whitney Sts to at least December 20. Cape May Warbler (Durham): Megan Gale photographed one at McLaughlin Bay on December 15. Yellow-rumped Warbler (AUDUBON'S) (Chatham-Kent): The bird found by Blake Mann at Rondeau PP on November 30 was seen again this week on December 17. WESTERN TANAGER (Ottawa): One bird was found November 27th but has become more reliable of late near Gillespie Park to at least December 21. For more details see: https://ontbirds.ca/empathy/thread/UFGOGJSC4AIB2X62M5CBNAIBWDEELSZZ Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Waterloo): Neil Taylor found one near Homer Watson Park on December 9 that remained to at least December 20. Dickcissel (Toronto): The bird found by Will Heikoop at Don Valley Brick Works Park on November 19 was seen by many to at least December 21. Report compiled by Mike Burrell from a variety of sources, primarily eBird; most other sources are listed here: http://ofo.ca/site/content/ontario-hotlines-and-news